Other Archaeological Sites / The Neolithic of the Levant (500 Page Book Online) Ancient Aleppo (Halab)
Cradled in a bowl of dry hills in northern Syria, the city of Aleppo presents an austere facade to those entering her ancient gates. Serious -- tightlipped -- sober; the adjectives often applied to her people convey a dignity befitting Aleppo's age for she vies with Damascus and Sana'a as the oldest existing city in the world. Although ancient Aleppo's roots lie buried out of reach beneath the modern city legend connects the site to the prophet Abraham. As he journeyed southward to the land of Canaan he paused in Aleppo. He milked his cow on the citadel hill; thus the city's Arabic name Halab which is derived from the word for milk (halib) ... |